Report of the Librarian 



One of the most satisfactory of recent developments is the increasing 

 intimacy in the relations of the library with the many societies and 

 organizations having similar interests. Besides the scientific societies 

 connected with the Museum which often hold lectures and exhibitions 

 in the library, other organizations such as the Art League, the Poetry 

 Society, the Reading Circle of the Blind, the different social service 

 groups, the Women's Civic Club, welfare and philanthropic organiza- 

 tions, university extension classes, schools, study clubs - in fact almost 

 all the organizations in the city devoted to educational, philanthropic, 

 civic, literary, and scientific pursuits - seem naturally turning to the 

 library, holding meetings and lectures in its halls, borrowing deposits 

 of books, procuring special lists, or finding assistance in forming their 

 programs. For reference and study by such groups, more books than 

 ever before - upwards of 2,600 volumes - have been set aside on special 

 shelves in Rice Hall. The library halls have been used 175 times, and 

 as all meetings are open and free, the public has enjoyed a profusion of 

 notable lectures, addresses, conferences, and exhibitions. Thus, several 

 of the foremost authorities in the country lectured on the artistic and 

 historical phases of printing, paintings by the Boston Guild of Artists 

 were exhibited, Mr. Raymond A. Bidwell's beautiful collection of Jap- 

 anese prints was shown, two flower shows were held, historic relics, 

 prints and manuscripts relating to Springfield were exhibited, and dis- 

 tinguished authors and scientists lectured. It is needless to enumerate 

 all; the above give an idea of the many good things that have thus been 

 made available to the public. 



In addition, there has been a continuous series of exhibitions arranged 

 by the library in the art room - wood block prints lent by Harold Haven 

 Brown, pictures showing the history of magazine illustration, Chinese 

 paintings by the younger school at Peking, superb photographs by Miss 

 Clara E. Sipprell, and twenty other exhibitions - to say nothing of the 

 splendid Wallace collection of etchings installed permanently. Perhaps 

 because of its local interest, no display excited more attention than the 

 silhouettes and miniatures lent by Springfield people, which followed the 

 daguerreotype exhibition held a year previous. Altogether, there is sel- 

 dom a time when a visit to the library will not repay, even if one is not 

 seeking books. 



Phonograph Records and Music Scores 



The phonograph records installed last year have given great satisfac- 

 tion. Seventy more, thirteen of which were gifts, have been added, 

 making the total 238; and these have circulated 7,617 times. Many peo- 

 ple, old and young, have thus become familiar with the best composers. 

 The records have been borrowed an average of about forty times each. 

 This means that most of the collection has been *'out" all the time, and 

 only the limited supply has prevented a greater circulation. 



